Producer David Permut, a figure in the independent film world, has built a career on an unusually rigorous festival attendance schedule. For years, Permut has maintained a demanding pace at major film festivals like the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and Sundance, often screening dozens of movies over the course of a few days. This deep immersion in new cinematic work has directly influenced his slate of films.
Permut's commitment to viewing as many films as possible, from anticipated awards contenders to obscure short films, is a hallmark of his producing career. This habit dates back at least nine years, when he reportedly screened 54 movies in 10 days at TIFF, subsisting largely on popcorn. His annual attendance at TIFF in September and Sundance in January is supplemented by visits to festivals such as Cannes, SXSW, and Tribeca, where he maintains a similar high-volume screening strategy.
This dedication to early and frequent film viewing has been instrumental in the genesis of several of Permut's recent projects. His latest film, Olivia Wilde's comedy "The Invite," was a standout at this year's Sundance, generating significant buzz and reportedly becoming the festival's biggest sale at $12 million. A24 is set to release the film, starring Seth Rogen, Wilde, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton, in limited release on Friday before a wider release on July 10.
The origins of Permut's last three movies can be traced to specific festival discoveries. The black comedy "Twinless," featuring Dylan O'Brien as twins, was inspired by Permut's viewing of James Sweeney's micro-budget film "Straight Up" at OutFest in 2019. "I fell in love with his little micro budget movie he made for $200,000, and that’s how 'Twinless' evolved," Permut stated. He found the writers for "The Invite" by discovering a gem of a movie at TIFF.
Similarly, the screenplay for "Celeste and Jesse Forever," by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, caught Permut's attention at TIFF in 2012. About six years ago, when Permut sought writers for an English-language adaptation of the Spanish film "The People Upstairs," which he had also discovered and optioned rights to at TIFF, he recalled McCormack and Jones's work.
His upcoming film, "Being Heumann," directed by Sian Heder, also has roots in a festival screening. In 2020, Permut watched "Crip Camp," an Obama-executive produced documentary about teens with disabilities, at Sundance. Two months later, as the industry faced a halt due to COVID-19, Permut secured the narrative remake rights and enlisted Heder to direct the project. "Being Heumann" is slated for release by Apple in the fourth quarter of this year and is considered an awards-season contender. Permut noted that bringing it to TIFF might be fitting.
Despite his age, Permut, 72, maintains an exceptional level of stamina. He continues to prioritize seeing as many films as possible at festivals, even when he has his own projects premiering. "Everybody from Hollywood usually goes home early. They’re in and out. Even when I have a film there, I never give up seeing as many movies if I can," he said. "Though I’m crawling to the midnight screening sometimes at this point in my life."